Red X is officially jumping from the television screen to the page. DC's announcements about Future State, its upcoming line-wide event, offered plenty of newsworthy revelations -- but many fans have been particularly excited about the news of Red X's arrival. This antihero became quite popular on the classic Teen Titans animated series and the decision to bring the character into the comics offers plenty of storytelling possibilities. Months before Future State begins, many readers are speculating about the identity of Red X. Given recent developments in Teen Titans, many of these fans are jumping to the conclusion that Damian Wayne is under the mask and there's plenty of evidence to support this theory.
Damian's leadership has practically destroyed the Teen Titans. Time and again, he has crossed the line. From illegally imprisoning criminals beneath the team's headquarters to killing Brother Blood, Damian has been out of control. Plus, Damian's attempted murder of KGBeast and Deathstroke's death at Red Arrow's hand has proven that the Teen Titans need to make some significant changes. This process will clearly start at the top, as Damian officially abandoned his Robin alias in Teen Titans Annual #2. He left the team to fend for themselves because he needs to do some serious soul searching, especially after Batman told him, "The Teen Titans are finished."
Damian's crimes have cost him everything. His teammates on the Teen Titans have become his closest friends, but they don't trust him anymore. Throughout the entire series, Damian has lied to them. His morally dubious actions have demonstrated his true character. At the end of the day, Wayne is willing to do whatever it takes to fight crime in a meaningful way. He'll cross any line -- a lack of restraint that has led to the downfall of the Teen Titans. As seen in the latest issue of the series, the team has decided to continue without him, so this chapter of the former Robin's life might be finished.
Damian may wish to start over, and taking on the mantle of Red X could be the perfect opportunity to do so. Though the alias was created as a cover for Robin in Teen Titans, the name isn't inherently tied to Batman's legacy. By becoming Red X, Damian could finally give himself the chance to break away from his father's legendary shadow. Plus, if the new version of the character is true to its origins, Damian could receive a substantial upgrade. In the show, Red X's suit was fueled by Zynothium, a chemical compound that gave the antihero an impressive power level. With this potential progression, Damian may be able to level the playing field against even the most dangerous criminals.
In addition to leaving the Teen Titans, Damian might be trying to distance himself from the Bat-Family, so taking on the Red X name could be the ideal way to stand on his own two feet. When Damian relinquished the Robin alias, he sent a clear message to his father and the rest of his allies. He's tired of being restricted by the Dark Knight's moral code, and he wants to wage his war on crime as he sees fit. Granted, this decision could backfire on him. When Jason Todd followed a similar path as Red Hood, he put himself right in the crosshairs of Batman himself. Still, Damian could decide that he's willing to risk this potential clash with his father because the former Robin is a young man with seemingly nothing to lose.
Future State will surely offer fans plenty of previews of DC's future. From additions to the Bat-Family to fresh Justice League members, the event will be filled with new characters. Red X is a blast from the past that will be making his comic book debut. But by having Damian under the antihero's mask, DC could immediately put him in the spotlight, as many fans would be eager to see how the former Robin would fare on his own.